For all of us old enough to remember Hull, Mikita, Stapleton, White, Martin, Pappin, Esposito, et. al. last night was for us.  A 4-1 Blackhawks series clinching win over Calgary in game 6 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, the first time a Hawks team has advanced in the playoffs since 1996.

Todd Bertuzzi is a member of my favorite group of hockey players: Goons with skills.  This is an elite group of players who can score an important goal one minute and then make you pull your hair out with a stupid, mind numbing penalty the next.  Other members of the "goon with skills" club include Pat Verbeek, Tie Domi and Claude Lemieux and Bob Probert.

The reason that I bring this up is because last night it was Bertuzzi's ill advised elbow to the head of Brent Seabrook early in the first period that led to the Chicago Blackhawks  first goal. A short time later, Dustin Byfuglien did a whirling dervish around the Calgary net, then put the puck right on the tape to Adam Burish who was steaming down the slot and the Hawks had a 2-0 first period lead they never gave up.

Best of all, Chicago is FINALLY abuzz with hockey.  The Hawks are hot again.  The Hawks are the buzz again.  The Hawks passed their first test and have moved on.  This, for long suffering Chicago hockey fans is the best news they've received since Rocky Wirtz banished Bob Pulford to working in a family owned liquor store as a stock boy and night janitor.

How far can this Hawks team go?  No one knows, but the simple fact that they will play into May and keep people talking about hockey is fine by me.  I've been waiting for this a long time.